Sprinkler system



May 26, 1925. 1,539,667.

T. HALAGARDA SPRINKLER SYSTEM Filed May 11, 1921 2 Sheefis-Sheet 1 N 2 Q\ E May 26, 1925. x 1 1,539,667

T. HALAGARDA SPRINKLER SYSTEM Filed May 11, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 latented May 26, 1925.

PATENT ToMAsz nnnasanina, or (intermarria e SPRINKLER} SYSTEM.

Application filed May 11,

T aZZ 707mmz't may concern...

Be it known that I, Torvmsz HALAGARDA, a citizen of Poland, residing at- Omaha, in the county of. Douglas and State of Nobraska, have invented certain new and useful ln'iprovements in Sprinkler Systems, of

which the following is a specification.

iii

This invention relates to what are known as fire sprinkler systems such as are usually employed in stores, factories and other business places.

The primary objectof the invention is to provide an improved system of this class in which the water distributing pipes through which the water passes to the sprinklers are normally emptied and water admitted thereto only in case of fire when it is desired that the sprinklers should operate.

The invention consists in the application to the main water supply pipe and ,u' 'a'ter distributing pipes of an improved apparatus whereby the flow of water from the main supply pipe to the water distributing pipe or pipes is normally cut off, but operated in case of fire toadmit the water to the water distributing pipe or pipes and the sprinklers connected therewith.

A further object is to provide an improved combined electrical and mechanical apparatus of the class specified, which is simple in construction and operation, and which will be automatically operated to produce the desired result in the case of fire as hereinafter described.

With the above general objects in view and others that will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same cons" ts of the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter" more fully described, shown in the accom-- panying drawings and claimed.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of an apparatus embodying my invention,

Figure 2 is a view partly in section and partly in plan of the device shown in Fig. 3 with the cover removed, and

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional View taken upon line IHIII of Fig. 1 through the combined mechanical valve operating motor and electrical release mechanism therefor.

1921. Serial no. 469,665;

In the drawings, 5 indicates amain water supply pipe of a'water sprinkling system of the class under consideration, and 6 de' notes a water distributing pipe which is connected with the pipe 5, and Which is pro: vided with sprinkling heads or devices 7 of the usual or any preferred construction,- and it will be understood that any number of water distributing pipes 6 may be employed, and also any desired number of the sprinkling devices 7.

The sprinkling device 7 may be provided with fusible heads or caps which are melted in the case of fire, and when the heat reaches a predetermined degree, the water is discharged through said sprinkling devices, under the above conditions in the usual man ner, and the details of the construction of these sprinkling devices form no part of the present invention, and are therefore, not shown and described.

In the operationof the apparatus,zwater is supposed to enter-the main supply pipe 5 and pass therethrough in the direction of the arrow 61, and said pipe is provided at a predetermined point with a valve device 8 comprising the usual valve casing in which is mounted a valvemember pro-' vided with a stem 9, the valve device being of the needle or gate type wherein aninwardly and outwardly movable closure device is provided, and wherein, when the stem 9 is rotated in one direction, said valve or closure device and stem both move outwardly for permitting passage of the wa-' ter to the distributing pipe 6.

A suitable board or plate 10 is mounted adjacent the valve 8 and has a casing fastened thereon composed of a bottom member 11 with attaching means 12 and laterally extending marginal flanges 13 onto which telescope acover 14 for enclosing the mechanism involving a mechanical motor for rotating theva-lve stem 9 so as to open the valve 8 and an electro-ma-g-net release mechanism for permitting operation of the motor. This encased mechanism involves a suitable motor frame 15 with a coil spring 16 mounted therein, the frame 15 beingfixed to the bottom casing member 11 adjacent one end of the latter, and the spring having one end fixed to a stationary post 17 while its other orinner end is attached to a rotatable power shaftlS. A spur gear 19 is fixed upon the shaft 18 and the same mesheswith another spur gear which is fixed upon a further shaft 21journaled in the frame 15 forwardly of the shaft 18 and sub-e stantially in line with the longitudinal axis of the casing A suitable shaft hanger or bearingbracket 22 is fixed within the frame 15 forwardly of the shaft 21 and a further shaft 23 is journaled therein atrightiangles to said shaft 21, a bevel gear 24 being fixed upon the inner end of the shaft 23 so as to mesh with a further bevelgear 25 fixed upon the shaft 21. A forked head 26 is suitably fastened upon the outer end of the shaft 23 exteriorly of the casing, and the arms of this head pass loosely through the hand wheel 27 of the valve stem 9 so as to engage the spokes of said wheel. A further shaft 28 is journaled in the frame 15 beside the shaft 18 and the same has a ratchet wheel 29 fastened thereon and also has a spur pinion 30 fastened thereon, said pinion being in mesh with the spur gear 20, and the ratchet wheel 29 being normally engaged by a spring pressed pawl 31 so as to prevent unwinding of the spring 16. It will thus be seen that when the pawl 31 is released from the ratchet wheel 29, the spring 16 will be permitted to unwind for rotating the shaft 23 through the gearing described, thereby opening the valve 8. The shaft 18 may be extended and provided with a squared end as at 32 for engagement by a suitable key 33 when necessary to rewind the spring 16,.the squared end 32 being accessible through an opening 34 inthe cover 14, and a keeper or clip 35 being preferably provided upon the board 10 for retaining said key in a con-venient position when not in use. A suitable valve 36 may be provided in the main water supply pipe 5 between the distributing pipe 6 and the valve 8 so as to permit repairs upon thesprinkler head and the like when said valve 36 is closed and without disturbing the valve 8. 7 i 1 An electro-n'lagnet 37 is rigidly mounted within the casing so as to attract a pivoted armature 38 which has a contact 39 fastened upon one end thereof normally out of engagement with a stationary contact 40 fixed to the bottom member 11 of the casing. The armature 38 is normally held away from the coreof the spools of the electro-magnet by means of a spring 41, and upon attraction of said armature, the contact 39 moves into engagement with the contact 40. A bifurcated plate 42 is fastened to the armature 38 so as to extend toward the ratchet wheel 29, and one arm of the plate 42 is formed as at 43 to engage an upstanding pin 44 on the pawl 31so as to disengage said pawl from the ratchet wheel when the armature 38 is attracted. The other arm of the plate 42 is extended as at 45 beside the shaft 28 where it is connected by'means of a rod 46 to a coil spring which has one end attached to a post 48 and which loosely encircles the shaft 28. The spring 47 merely provides additional means for releasing the arm 43 fromthe pawl 31 andfor outwardly swinging the armature 38 to the position shown in Fig. 2 wherein contacts 39 and 40 are separated.

Y A wire 49 extends from the movable contact 39 to one spool of the electro-magnet as at 50, and another wire 51 extends from the point to one side of a suitable battery 52. A further wire 53 extends from the stationary contact 40 to a suitable alarm 54 which may be located at fire headquarters, and a return wire 55 extends from the other side of the alarm 54 to the battery 52. A still further wire 56 extends from the other spool of the electro-magnet where it is connected in parallel by means of wire generally denoted by the numeral 57 with a pinrality of thermostatic switches 58, one of which is located adjacent each of the sprinkler heads 7, andthe other sides of which thermostaticswitches are connected as at 59 with the battery 52; It is to be understood that the thermostatic switches 58 may be of any well known or preferred construction wherein the movable contact is normally out of engagement with the stationary contact and which movable contact is automatically actuated through excessive heat to engage the stationary contact.

provided with my improved apparatus, and

the temperature should rise to a point or de gree at which the heads of the sprinkling device 7 will be fused, the tllBlll'lOStZtlllC switches 58 will also be actuated by the heat so that the movable contacts thereof engage the fixed contacts of the same. Upon closing'ofthe thermostatic switches 58 of any one of the same, the current is permitted to flow through the spools of the electromagnet 37 by way of wires 59, 57, 56 and 51 and this causes attraction of the armature 38 so as to swing the contact 39 into engagement with the contact 40, and this closes a circuit from the battery through wire 55, alarm 54 and wires 53 and 51 back to the battery so that an alarm is given at fire headquarters. At the same time that the armature 38 is swung by traction as above outlined, the arm 43 r of the plate member 42 disengages the pawl 31 from the ratchet wheel 29 and the spring 16 is thus allowed to rotate the forked head 26 for opening the "alve 8. The flow of water through the sprinkler heads will continue until the thermostatic sw"ches are ti iy r turned to open position and van e 8 is reti nod to its normal closed .f'ion, or the water lIl oe cutoff by hand manipulation of the va.ve 36. A spanner wrench (30 may he held by a suitable clasp or keeper 61 on the board 15) for convenient operation of the valve With my apparatu it will be seen that there will be no water the distributing pipe or pipes (3 nor sprinh devices 7, and this, as .is evident, will prevent the freezing and bursting of such oevices in extremely cold v. or .nd thus will prevent great loss and d age as will be readily understood.

It also sometimes happens when sprinkling apparatus of the kind herein described is employed, that the heads of the sprinkling devi are accidentally broken off and this, of course, would also result in great loss and nvenience if the distributing pipes were ill of water, all of which loss and inconven- "ence is obviated by my improvements.

From the foregoing description, it is believed that the construction and operation as well as the advantages the present in vention will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the What is claimed as new is: 1. in a valve operating mechanism, a valve, a wheel secured to the stem of said valve, shaft supported in axial alinement with said stem, a forked head carried by said shaft operatively engaging the spokes of said wheel, a pair of gear carrying shafts positioned to extend at right angles to the first mentioned shaft, a spring motor mounted upon one the last two mentioned shafts, means for connecting the first mentioned shaft with the pair of right-singularly arart.

ranged shafts, means for normally retaining the spring motor mopcr lVC, electrical means for releasing said motor, a normally open circuit for the electrical means, and means for closing said circuit when the operation of said valve is desired.

In a valve operating mechanism, a valve having a stem, a shaft supported in axial alinement with said stem, means for connecting said shaft and stem so that rotation of the former will rotate the latter, a pair of gear carry'ng shafts positioned to extend at right angles to the last mentioned shaft, a spring motor mounted upon one of the last mentioned shaft-s, means for connecting the first mentioned shaft with the pair of right-angularly arranged shafts, means for normally retaining the spring motor inoperative, electric means for releasing said motor, a normally open circuit for the electric means, and means for closing said circuit when the operation of said valve is desired.

3. In a valve operating mechanism, a

shafts, mechanical means for rotating one 1 of said last mentioned shafts, means for nor mally retaining the mechanical means inoperative, electric means for releasing said last mentioned means, a normally open circuit for the electric means, and means for closing said circuit when the operation of said valve is desired. I

4:. In a valve operating mechanism, a valve, a wheel secured to the stem of said valve, a shaft supported in axial alinement with said stem, a forked head carried by said shaft operatively engaging the spokes of said wheel, a pair of gear carrying shafts positioned to extend at right angles to the last mentioned shaft and having a portion of their gears connecting said pair of shafts, mechanical means for rotating one of said last mentioned shafts, a gear connection between the first mentioned shaft and the pair of right-angularly arranged shafts, means for normally retaining the mechanical means inoperative, electrical means for releasing said last mentioned means, a normally open circuit for the electric means, and means for closing said circuit when the operation of said valve is desired.

5. In a valve operating mechanism, a

valve, a wheel secured to the stem of said valve, ashaft supported in axial alinement with said stem, a. forked head carried by said shaft operatively engaging the spokes of said wheel, a pair of gear carrying shafts positioned to extend at right angles to the last mentioned shaft, a spring motor mounted upon one of the last mentioned shafts, means for connecting the first mentioned shaft with the pair of right angularly arranged shafts, a pawl and ratchet mechanism for normally retaining th spring motor inoperative, electric means for operating said pawl to release said ratchet wheel, a normally open circuit for the electric means, and means for closing said circuit when the operation of said valve is desired.

6. In a valve operating mechanism, a valve, a wheel secured to the stem of said valve, a shaft supported in axial alinement with said stem, a forked head carried by said shaft operatively engaging the spokes of said wheel, a pair of gear carrying shafts positioned to extend at right angles to the first mentioned shaft, a spring motor mounted upon one of the pair of gear carrying shafts, a gear connection between the last mentioned shaft and the pair of rightangularly arranged shafts, a pawl and ratchet Wheel mechanism for normally retaining the spring motor inoperative, electrodnagnets'for operating said pawl to release said'ratehet Wheel, a normally open circuit for the eleotro-magnets, and means for closing said cireuit'when the operation of said valve is desired.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature 1n presence of two Witnesses.

TOMASZ HALAG ARDA Witnesses V R. Z. DABROWSKI, I GEO. WOLNIEWIOZ. 

